Survey of the public mental health during the COVID-19 epidemic

ObjectiveTo investigate the current mental health status of people in Bengbu affected by corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, to provide a reference for relevant departments to improve mental health service, and to supply basis to conduct psychological intervention in the present and future.

MethodsThe questionnaire of the public mental health during COVID-19 epidemic was made online, and the subjects were invited to fill in the questionnaire by Wechat forwarding.

ResultsThe effective response rate was 100% (343/343).The subject who understood the development of COVID-19 epidemic accounted for 90.67%, who understood COVID-19 accounted for 87.17%, who wore mask in public place accounted for 99.42%, who estimated that COVID-19 would be basically controlled within three months accounted for 72.3%, who believed that the current measures were effective accounted for 87.18%, who thought that the home was the safest place during the period of COVID-19 epidemic accounted for 90.67%, and who knew that concealing the contact history of COVID-19 was illegal accounted for 65.31%.In the 20 items of the self-assessment questionnaire of mental health, the top three with the highest detection rate were easy fatigue (34.69%), unhappiness (29.45%) and difficulty to make decision (28.28%).In subjects of different genders, females who felt "nervous, uneasy or worried", and "cried much more than before" were more than male (P < 0.05).In subjects of different occupations, non-medical staffs who felt "that it was difficult to have fun from daily activity", and "had the thought of ending own life" were more than medical staffs (P < 0.05).Sixty cases had the questionnaire SRQ-20 score ≥7 points.

ConclusionsAfter COVID-19 occurence, the government and society's vigorous publicity to the public has achieved good results.The public pays more attention to COVID-19, has a better understanding of the disease, and can take effective measure, so the majority of the public has good mental health.Psychological intervention should be strengthened, especially the acute stress response of women and some non-medical staffs.